Приключения Шерлока Холмса / The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (сборник)

“It is great to work with you, Mr. Holmes,” said the inspector, warmly. “You will excuse me, however, if I speak frankly to you. I’m responsible for this case. If this Abe Slaney is really the murderer and if he has escaped while I’m sitting here, I’ll get into serious trouble[142].”

“Don’t worry. He will not escape.”

“How do you know?”

“To escape would be a confession of guilt.”

“Then let us go to arrest him.”

“No, we expect him here every minute.”

“But why should he come?”

“Because I have written to him and asked him.”

“But this is incredible, Mr. Holmes! Why should he come because you have asked him? Isn’t it suspicious?”

“I think I have written the letter correctly,” said Sherlock Holmes. “In fact, if I am not mistaken[143], here he comes.”

A man was walking up the path which led to the door. He was very tall and handsome, dressed in a grey suit, with a Panama hat. He had a black beard and a great hooked nose. He walked up the path with the face as if the place belonged to him. We heard a ring at the bell.

“I think, gentlemen,” said Holmes, quietly, “that we had better take up our position behind the door. It is necessary to take every precaution[144] when you deal with such a person. You will need your handcuffs, inspector. I will talk.”

We waited in silence for a minute… one of those minutes which one can never forget. Then the door opened and the man stepped in.

Exercises

1. Was Inspector Martin happy to work with Mr. Holmes?

1) Yes, he was, it was great to work with him.

2) Yes, he was but at first he didn’t like him.

3) No, he wasn’t but at first he liked him.

4) No, he wasn’t because he could get into serious trouble.

2. Why didn’t Sherlock Holmes explain everything to his colleagues at once?

1) He liked to make mysteries.

2) He didn’t want to share it with anybody.

3) He had no time.

4) It would take time and he wanted to act immediately.

3. Who was Elrige?

1) A farmer

2) A policeman

3) A doctor

4) A cheater

4. What was the first letter that Holmes guessed?

1) K

2) M

3) I

4) E

Why?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Why was Inspector Martin worried that Abe Slaney could escape?

1) He was responsible for this case.

2) He forgot his handcuffs.

3) He had no escort to help him.

4) Sherlock Holmes talked too much.

6. Why did Holmes call the policeman from New York?

1) He wanted to know if the name Abe Slaney was American.

2) He wanted to know if Mrs. Cubitt was known to him.

3) He wanted to ask for his advice.

4) He wanted to know if Abe Slaney was a criminal.

7. Why couldn’t Slaney escape?

1) He was in handcuffs.

2) He wanted to be sent in prison.

3) It would be a confession of guilt.

4) It wasn’t mentioned in the text.

8. Describe Abe Slaney:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Choose the right verbs:

If any visitor…………… to Mrs. Cubitt, they shouldn’t…………… him anything about what…………….

1) came, told, happened

2) came, tell, had happened

3) had come, tell, had happened

4) come, told, happened

10. Complete the sentences with these words and expressions:

no doubt, difficulty, by the way, every precaution, mistaken, get into, occurred

1) In fact, if I am not……………, here he comes.

2) Even now I was in some……………, but suddenly it…………… to me that this person had been close with the lady in her past.

3) It is necessary to take…………… when you deal with such a person.

4) There is…………… that the latter as a reply is the most probable.

5) If this Abe Slaney is really the murderer and if he has escaped while I’m sitting here, I’ll…………… serious trouble.

6) I know all forms of secret writings and I am the author of some…………….

11. Insert the right prepositions:

by, into, for, in, to, with, at, without

1) He worked with them…………… some time…………… the table.

2) Finally he gave a note…………… the boy.

3) And we can assume that it was a reply written…………… the lady.

4) I think that now I can help you to spend this hour…………… an interesting way.

5) Inspector Martin was filled……… admiration and ready to follow…………… question wherever Holmes led.

6) And I came to an idea that the flags were used to break the sentence up…………… words.

12. Complete the table:

V